The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-02-05


tie Mississippi has not carried the
place away, is on the Arkansas Shore
three or four hours run above Men,
phis. l started back into the country
one summer day TO see an old friend
living about five miles from the Land
ing, The merchant at the river bank
loaned me mule. strapped on an old
potato sack for saddle, and the start
was made IN good shape. There isn't
theleastnecessity tor any other stranger
to GO over that road. In order to save
all trouble it may be stated that that
strip Of Arkansas is composed oil
swai1ps, ague, mosquitoes, rattiesnakess
watermelons and crows. 1t was in tho
dryest season of the year aud the pco-
pie were praying for rain. and yet that
mule couldn't be got of walk on ac-
count of the mud. Twice he got stuck
fast on the very crest of what they call
hills. and he didn't tear himself loose
until the crows settled so thickly
around US that terror came to inspire
him.
Half the distance had been accom-.
plished when a log cabin was discov-
cred to the right Of the road and sew
eral rods of. / was terribly thirsty
and feined toward the house, but had
not vet covered half the distance when
. pack Of dogs broke loose from some
where and came around the corner OF
the hut. There were dogs of all shades
and breeds and colors, except poodles
and pugs. 1 had time to notice a
bloodhound as high as a yearling cali,
and bulldog built something like a
cider barrel, when the mule made q
break over field of sickly corn and
into the timber Before he was across
the fold three or four of the dogs had
bitten him on the legs, and the blood
hound had jumped clear over him rs
he made grab at me. Right under
the low branches of great old tree
rushed the mule, and it was either to
be swept off or to climb of. l seized a
branch and let him pass from under
me- and next moment was looking
down upon seven yelping, bowling,
disappointed cnrs. They seemed to
feel something like man does when
the sub-office closes the circuit on him
as he is blowing up the grocer for not
delivering those goods. In about five
minutes woman in a pole bonnet and
carrying a shotgun on her shoulder
came across the field, and as she came
near enough to make out the object in
the tree she halted and exclaimed:
'sShoo! but thought it was coon!
'sSorry to disappoint you, ma'am.
Please call off your dogs"
.sWhat furs'
so lean come down.
II shan't do nothin' of the kindP You
is new: to these parts, and you don't
como down till call Jim"
'sWhere is hep
''At the saw-mill, over on the
branch"
"Well. please hurry up. Tn terri
bly, thirsty. and these mosquitoes are
enough to drive one crazy.
"Yes, / reckon; but never knowed
an honest man to take to treef The
dogs will see that you dom tcome down
afore / bring Jimr'
1t was just an hour and half before
she returned with her old man. and he
was carrying club in his hand. Dur
ing this interval the air around me was
literally alive with mosquitoes. I killed
'em by the thousand, but where one
laid down his life for his country three
bit me to the bone and escaped to brag
of it. The dogs remained on guard.
and by way of keeping up my spirits
the bloodhound tried his jumping
powers. was twelve feet up. He
could Jump eleven feet and six inches.
He tried it over and over again, but
this was the best he could do. Tho
bulldog had sorq6f thought Of craving
the tree dow1 but gave up the idea
after working slifteen minutes. The
others sat and glared at me and
smacked their chops and tasted quail
on toast. When Jim and his fife were
close to the tree they halted and she said:
{ THAT'S him, up thar"
'.Now, Bets. describe him. for I'm
TOO nighsightsd to get his pints. Hew's
Mis- h65r?'
short"
"Ighs sAner 'complecteds"
.. ry or ,s.n
s.Kind o. between"
- "Chaw plug or fine cutr''
Cant say" Nkee
.'Skeeters takin' to him?"
Fright smart" Sc
..And he was ridin' Davis old mule.
Eeh?' y
HE was"
"Str1nE ger Who be you. whar' you
goint AZ Wiih do you know in these
here partsa" ashed Jim, as he came =
little closer.
Imade him = stump-speech two min
utes long, and ne turned to his wife
and said, 49,
.Well. Bets. he talks squar'."
L 4 u